US President Donald Trump has dismissed the leadership of the federal Election Assistance Commission (EAC), an independent agency that provides funding and election security guidance to state election officials, according to CNN. The move comes ahead of the anticipated midterm elections later this year.
White House Email Confirms Termination
CNN reported that at least one EAC commissioner received an email from a White House official stating, "On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as Commissioner of the Election Assistance Commission is terminated, effective immediately. Thank you for your service."
Concerns Over Election Security
The dismissals have prompted concern among election officials and voting rights advocates. The EAC is one of the few federal agencies responsible for supporting election security after significant reductions to the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
Established by Congress in 2002 as a bipartisan body, the EAC certifies voting systems and administers federal funding for elections. The agency has also sought to support election officials who have faced threats linked to election-related conspiracy theories.
Criticism from State Officials
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes criticized the administration's decision, saying, "It is irresponsible and dangerous that this administration remains dead set on causing chaos for our election officials across this country. This move undermines the integrity of nonpartisan election administration."
Supreme Court Ruling and Executive Order
Concerns over the future of the EAC had grown following a recent US Supreme Court ruling that expanded the President's authority to remove leaders of independent federal agencies. The EAC was also a central target of an executive order signed by Trump in 2025, directing the commission to require proof of citizenship for federal voter registration forms and encouraging states to adopt Election Day deadlines for mail-in ballots. Multiple federal courts blocked significant portions of the executive order.
Former Official Comments
A former EAC official told CNN that the latest dismissals reflected long-standing concerns about the agency's future. "The EAC has been a dead man walking since the Slaughter decision--really since the executive order last year. Today's firings make this even more clear. Congress would have never created a federal agency with the EAC's mandate that wasn't independent and insulated from White House direction. RIP EAC," the former official said.
The dismissals come as debates over election administration and federal oversight continue ahead of the upcoming US midterm elections.
